President Obama: I’m Not sure I would let my Son Play Football

Everyone knows just how violent the game of Football is and the risks that players take by choosing to play it. From injuries to mental ailments later in life, while these players may love the game it seems they are paying the price at later ages in life.

President Obama had made it clear that he loves Football just like the next man. However, while talking to The New Republic, he wasn’t sure he would let his son play the game if he had the option.

“And I think that those of us who love the sport are going to have to wrestle with the fact that it will probably change gradually to try to reduce some of the violence,’’ Obama said.

‘‘In some cases, that may make it a little bit less exciting, but it will be a whole lot better for the players, and those of us who are fans maybe won’t have to examine our consciences quite as much.’’

‘‘The NFL players have a union, they’re grown men, they can make some of these decisions on their own, and most of them are well-compensated for the violence they do to their bodies,’’ he said. ‘‘You read some of these stories about college players who undergo some of these same problems with concussions and so forth and then have nothing to fall back on. That’s something that I’d like to see the NCAA think about.”

Strong, thoughtful words from our President.

To be honest, if you’re going to play the game you have to be fully accepting of the risks that come along with it. Could we see more and more parents not willing to let their children play the game?

Obviously we’ll have to wait and see, but I couldn’t necessarily blame a mother who saw those hits and concluded that isn’t for their son.